Quinn appoints panel to review Metra oversight

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald

Michael Tercha, Chicago Tribune

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. (Michael Tercha, Chicago Tribune)

Monique GarciaTribune reporter

Gov. Pat Quinn has appointed a 15-member commission to review oversight at the Regional Transportation Authority and recommend ways to prevent fraud and abuse following the recent accusations of political patronage at Metra.

Members of the panel includes former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, and will be co-chaired by Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider and George Ranney Jr., the president of Metropolis Strategies who led the creation of the RTA nearly 40 years ago.

Quinn argues the RTA has failed to prevent scandal after scandal at the transit agencies it oversees, including the commuter rail agency now under fire.

"It's clear that the mass transit system in northeastern Illinois is not working for taxpayers," Quinn said in a statement. "This task force is a step forward to make our transit system worthy of the public's trust."

The move comes after Metra board members were left explaining a $718,000 severance package they awarded to former CEO Alex Clifford. Clifford claimed he was pushed out for refusing patronage requests by powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan, including asking for a raise for one of his political supporters. Madigan maintains that he has done nothing wrong.

Quinn wants the panel to come up with a series of initial recommendations by the fall veto session in October, with a final report due by the end of January. Their suggestions would have to be approved by lawmakers, a process Quinn has found is not always easy when it comes to the blue-ribbon panels his appoints.